The Hermes garden party bag has been around for a while. It’s the ideal everyday bag for the modern heiress to flaunt. Carry it whenever you are in need of shopping spree, take it in the evenings and even to work. It’s versatile enough to adapt itself to the summer and winter times, this bag melts like ice cream to your short yellow dress or even your winter coat.

If you have never touched the Hermes Garden party, then you haven’t experienced the ultimate smoothness of a luxury. Though available in different leathers, but the buffalo skin is my favorite. This bag holds shape, is smooth and durable. Decorated in silver and palladium plated hardware and it comes with a Clou de Selle snap closure.

You can find this bag in two sizes, small and medium. Both of them has enough room to take down all your personal essentials It’s even strong enough to carry your books and thus makes it great for traveling or everyday use. We spotted celebrities like Jordana Brewster toting with their Hermes Garden party, so why wouldn’t you want to try it out?

Small: 12″x 8.5″ x 5″
Medium: 14″x 10.25″ x 6.5″

The Garden Party bag comes in a full leather option as I have pictured here and also in a canvas option with leather trim. I don’t particularly go for canvas bodies for bags, so my pick would have to be the full leather version.

Hermes says their Garden Party bags are made of negonda leather, which is a soft and supple leather that is also durable and more water resistant with a matte finish. I thought it made sense because the Garden Party bag isn’t one you’d baby, as you would a more structured Birkin or Kelly. It has a more casual, relaxed vibe to it.

I could and would take it to work, paired with a business-like white shirt and pencil skirt with heels, because it looks structured enough; but I would also take the same bag when I travel or when I’m out on a weekend, paired with flats, jeans and a polo tee or shirt, and it wouldn’t look out of place!

The interior is lined with canvas instead of leather, which is quite natural since the price isn’t as swoon-worthy as many other bags from this uber luxury brand, coming in at about US$3,400 for the medium leather version. I just like how it looks like a workhorse, but an elegant one.

Whilst it looks plain, I’ve seen pictures where people dress it up with a scarf or a bag charm to add some visual interest. Also, the leather versions come in beautiful colours including a beautiful bright blue and the signature Hermes orange, which appeals to me because I love colourful bags. But as much as I’d love an orange Garden Party, I think if I were to end up getting one, I’d go for one in Gold or Etoupe. Gold isn’t gold at all, and looks more like a tan while etoupe is a workable cool grey-taupe. Just to get a little more mileage out of it.

Granted, there are similar looking options out there from more affordable brands. The Prada Saffiano Luxe Tote has a similar design and vibe, as do many more affordable brands, if you look in Michael Kors, Coach or Kate Spade.

For me however, I have my eye set on a leather Garden Party. It looks like something I’d get a lot of use out of, it suits my style and it isn’t obtrusive nor immediately noticeable. I like that in bags.

Gucci’s back with another limited edition capsule collection that will only be sold exclusively online viaGucci.com.

Simply known as the Gucci Garden collection (just take one quick look at the print and you’ll figure it out), the collection will only be available in countries where Gucci offers e-commerce, and in our part of the world that means Australia, Japan and Korea. Still, if you want something bad enough, I’m sure you’ll find a way, even if it means sucking up to an overseas colleague you’d rather not owe any favours to. But for the sake of Gucci, it’s worth it, right?

Besides the Dionysus bag that will come in 3 sizes, there’s also a zip-around wallet, along with the shoes, one a sneaker, the other a pair of mules that come adorned with another Gucci signature, the Horsebit buckle. There will also be a selection of RTW, from a reversible zip-up bomber jacket in silk twill to skirts that come pleated in silk crêpe de chine. There are shorts, there are dresses, there’s even a cardigan, all essential wardrobe staples that will help you become the Alessandro Michele’s quintessential Gucci girl of today.

For more information on what’s available and their prices, do check out Gucci.but remember to act fast because it will probably all sell out pretty fast again.

I often get asked, if I’m new to Hermès and want to start small, what are the bags I should be checking out first? Frankly, as far as Hermès is concerned, there is no such thing as small when it comes to its prices, but there are entry-level bags one can check out if the spirit is willing but the wallet, well, a tad weaker, for now anyway.

Take, for example, the Hermès Garden Party, an icon in her own right that comes in both twill canvas and leather variations. It’s also available in 3 distinct sizes, Small,Medium and Large, with today’s focus on the smallest one. Measuring some 30 cm across (which explains why it’s also called the Garden Party30) by 22 cm, this particular one sells for USD2175 (which is just under SGD3000 after conversion), the good part is that you can easily dress it up. I’ve seen Garden Party bags with Twillyscarves and leather Petit H charms hanging from the handles.

The bad? There isn’t a zip that runs across the top, and worse still, it can only be hand-held, given the height of its rather short top handles. Still, it’s a pretty cute bag and one that’s pretty hardwearing too, given the kind of quality bags Hermès makes.

And if size is the issue, you can go up a size to the Medium (that’s around 35 cm across, USD2325), which is also the most common of the 3 sizes I’ve seen. And then there’s the Large (USD2950), which spans 50 cm and one that’s too big even by my own standards.

Still not convinced? Then check out these other two bags from Hermès I consider the good-value-and-will-not-break-bank-yet bags: the Evelyne, as well as the Herbag Zip, both of which come with long enough slings to allow you to either wear it across the body or over the shoulder.

Want to see a new bag made by Hermes? It’s about time right? Well, it’s not really new but its something you haven’t spotted yet.

First of all, the original Hermes Garden Party Bag doesn’t need any introduction because it has been around for sometime. And we know the Hermes Garden Party is ideal for almost any occasion – for work, the weekends or shopping. It’s feminine and has large spacious to carry so much more than your basic essentials.

But anyways, allow us to introduce something different; Meet Hermes Garden Party Pockets Bag. The one we are sharing is made from calf leather in combination with cotton. It’s refined with palladium hardware and the interior features a zip-closure. The shoulder strap can be adjusted anytime you want – it can be carried on your hand or even on your shoulder.

Sow what’s new about this bag? Well, the name already revealed the secrets – it got extra pockets on the front and it has a squared shape (if you compare it to the original Hermes Garden Party Bag).

But other elements like the button on the front, the handles and most of the design are basically the same.

The Valentino Garden Couture Bag Collection is one for the books as another drool-worthy set you should all watch out for! Step into another world as the luxury brand gives you a taste of the season’s finest – large, delicate prints and beautiful colors are the highlights of Garden Couture, and we know you want in! If you want a spectacle to be paired-off with your outfits, then these babies are for you.